Implement mounting frame for cutter units



March 30, 1954 N. R. POLLOCK ET AL IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FRAME FOR CUTTER UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 28. 1952 R BERTIZ WRFE N%RMAN 'R. LOQK BY W AND 0144M, [v

ATTORNEYS March 30, 1954 N. R. POLLOCK ET AL 2,673,437

IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FRAME FOR CUTTER UNITS Filed Nov. 28, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS March 1954 N. R. POLLOCK ET AL IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FRAME FOR CUTTER UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 28, 1952 K w 0N TI NWL ER VE mp? TN RA EM BR OO RN D B N A F G 6 2 m A c 5 2 B 5 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 IMPLEMENT MOUNTING FRAME FOR CUTTER UNITS Norman R. Pollock .and Robert L. Erwin, Royal Oak, Mich., assignors, by mesne assignments, .to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application November 28, 1952, Serial No. 322,964

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved hydraulic mower, and particularly to an improved frame construction for a tractor mounted hydraulically actuated mower.

There are an abundance of examples in the prior art of reciprocating knife mowers wherein an hydraulic motor is utilized .to drive the reciprocating knife. However, when such-mowers are applied to agricultural uses, which necessarily requires that the mower frame be designed to permit raising and lowering movements of the mower for transport purposes and swing-back movements of the mower cutter bar :for protec tion against obstructions, the resulting mower constructions have heretofore been of such a complicated nature as to completely offset any economic advantagesinherentin utilizing the hydraulic type of actuation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved frame construction for an hydraulically actuated mower.

Aparticular object of this invention is to provide a 'frame construction for mounting .an hydraulically actuated mower upon a prime'mover,

such as a tractor, characterized by 'the fact that the structural frame elements are utilized as fluid conduits for conducting pressured fluid from a suitable source on the tractor to the fluid motor mounted upon the cutter bar structure of the mower.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved frame structure for an hydraulically actuated-mower which is particularly adaptable for mounting upon a well-known type of tractor having power-lifted, trailing hitch links.

The specific nature of this invention, as well asother objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the :art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an hydraulically actuated mower constructed in accordance with this invention, shown in mounted relationship with respect to a tractor;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged scale, partial sectional view taken on the plane 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of

that portion of the device illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged scale view, partly in section-of the drag bar swivel mounting; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged scale sectional view taken-on the plane 6!5 of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

While not limited thereto, a mower constructed in-accordance with this invention is particularly adaptable for use with a well-known type of tractor Iii having laterally spaced, power-lifted, trailing hitch links H secured to its rear axle housing 12, together witha centrally disposed top link I3, which is pivoted to the top central portions of such rear axle housing. Asupporting or carrying frame 14 for the mower comprises an inverted U-shaped pieceof tubing Ma having :a rod I42) rigidly secured :in bracing relationship between its two vertical arm portions. At the top centralportion of frame 14 a pair of ears Mo are welded and provide a connection to the top link 13 by virtue of a pin |3a-. Near the lower extremities of each arm portion of the frame it, a laterally projecting mounting pin 14d is rigidly mounted and such pin is received in the spherical type bearing sleeves I la conventionally provided in the ends of the hitch links H. Additionally, for added rigidity, 'a stabilizer link l5 may be mounted on the zone mounting pin Md and extends to a suitable bracket [2a provided on the lateral extremity of the tractor rear axle housing I2 to which it is pivotallyssecured. It is therefore apparent that the mower mounting frame 14 will be elevatedor lowered directly by the power-lifted movements of the tractor hitch links I I.

The tractor 1 0 is provided with-a conventional rear power-take-off (not shown) and an hydraulic pumping unit 16 is mounted on such power-take-off and has two outlet connections lfic and l-Bb for supplying pressured fluid to opposite sides of a piston (described later) which drives the reciprocating knife of the hydraulic mower. While the detailsof construction 'of the pumping unit It are immaterial to the understanding of this invention, such unit may partake of any conventional construction, for example a pumping unit similar to that shown in United States Patent No. 2,414,519 to J. C. Green, Jr.

In accordance with this invention, a drag bar structure 20 is provided which comprises a pair of generally parallel tubular elements 28a and 2% which are rigidly interconnected by suitable bracing plates 20p and Eilq. At the one end of drag bar 20 a universal type swivel mounting structure 2| is provided for swivelly mounting the drag bar upon the left hand arm (as viewed in Figure l) of the mower frame I4. As best illustrated "in Figure 5, such mounting is accomplished by a plug member 2 la which is insertable into the open end of the mower frame l4 and secured thereto by the mounting pin 14d which passes through suitable apertures in plug 2 la and mower frame 14. A yoke 2lb is provided which defines a vertical bore Zia which is journaled upon the depending stem portion 21d of plug 2 id. Yoke 2 lb also defines a transverse bore Zie which horizontally journals a pivot pin 25f. A pair of spaced vertical lugs 25c and 28d are respectively rigidly secured to the ends of the drag bar elements 29a and Zilb and are traversed by the horizontal pin 2! 1. Hence. the drag bar may swivel in a horizontal plane about the vertical axis hear-- ing provided by the plug Zla, and in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis bearing provided by the pin 2H.

To retain the drag bar structure in its normal horizontal transverse relat onship with respect to the tractor l 9, an extensible linkage 22 is provided which comprises a sleeve 22a which is swivelly attached by an arm 22d to a suitable mounting bracket 12b provi ed on the tractor rear axle hous ng I 2. A rod 2% is slidable ithin the sleeve 22c and is suitably secured to the drag bar structure 29. A s'oring pressed latch (not shown) is mounted within a lateral cylindrical exten ion 2 0, inte rally formed on sleeve 22a. and such latch normally cooperates with suitable not (not sho n) in rod 221) to retain such rod in such position as to maintain the drag bar structure 20 in transverse re ationship with respect to the tract r I Obv ously. noon the occurrence of any over oad encountered by the mo er structure carried by the outer end of the dra bar structure 2". the s ring pre sed latch will be overcome and the rod 22b ill slide rearwardlv w th re ect to the s eeve 22a until the enlarged head portion 22c on the end of such rod contacts the forward end of s eeve 22a.

The laterally ro ectinq en s of the tubu ar drag bar e ements 20a and Nb are sufliciently s aced a art so as to receive therebetween a U- shaped yoke 2311 whi h for s part of the cutter bar str cture. A: best shown in Figure 3, the cutter bar voke 23a is of U-shaned c nfiguration having a base portion 3h secured to a conventional cutter bar as emblv 24 and spaced upstanding arm portions 23c. Bo ts 24" are utilized to e fect the securement of yoke 23a to cutter bar 24.

In each of the ends of the dra bar tubu ar elements 211. and 20b, a connecting plug 25 is m unted. Plu 25 has a reduced diameter stem portion 2511. which is snugly insertable within the end of the correspon ing tub ar element and defines a longitudinally extending bore 25b which is, of course, in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the particular tubular element 2811 or 2%. Additionally. plug 25 is pr vided with an enlarged transverse aperture 250 and such aperture is co nterbored at two points along its axial len th as indicated at 25d and 252. A pivot pin 26 is provided which has an enlarged cylindrical head portion 26a journaled in the transverse aperture 250 and projecting through a suitab e aperture 231 provided in the adjacent upstanding arm 230 of yoke 23. The outer end of pivot pin 26 has a suitable stop washer 26 mounted thereon and retained against axial displacement by a snap ring 25g which seats in a suitable annular groove 25h. Pivot pin 26 has a reduced diameter stem portion 2512 which projects inwardly beyond the adjacent yoke arm 23c and has a threaded portion 260 formed thereon upon which a nut 26d and washer 26e are mounted to effect the clamping cf the pivot pin to yoke 23. The extreme inner end 269' of pivot pin 26 is a smooth cylindrical configuration, for a purpose to be later described. An axial hole 2610 is bored into pivot pin 26 from the inner end and a transverse hole 26m is drilled through the enlarged diameter end portion 26a to intersect the axial hole 26k and provide fluid communication with the bore 25b in plug 25. Suitable fluid seals 25) are mounted in each of the counterbores 25d and 25a to prevent loss of fluid between plug 25 and pivot pin 26.

An hydraulic motor housing 21 is suitably mounted on cutter bar 24 and the bolts 2441 may be utilized to effect such mounting. Hydraulic motor housing 2'! defines a pair of oppositely disposed fluid ports 21a and 21?) which are respectively located in alignment with the holes 23f provided in the arm portions of yoke 23 and of suitable diameter so as to pivotally receive the cylindrical inner end portions 23 of the pivot pins 26. The outer ends of ports 27a and 2117 are provided with counterbores 270 to receive suitable fluid seals 21d therein. Suitable passages 21c and 2?) are provided in fluid motor housing 21 which respectively communicate with the cylinder bore 21 g at opposite sides of a piston 28 which is reciprocable in such cylinder bore. Piston 28 is suitably mounted on a rod 28a which is in turn suitably connected to the reciprocable knife 24b which is conventionally mounted on the cutter bar 24. A bleed passage 21h is provided in housing 2! communicating with opposite ends of cylinder bore 21 From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the tubular frame elements 20a and 29b of the drag bar structure 20 may be conveniently employed to conduct pressured fluid respectively I to opposite sides cf the piston 28 of the hydraulic motor unit which actuates the reciprocating knife. The hydraulic connection of the tubular frame elements 20a and 20b to the pressured fluid outlets lEa and IE1) may be conveniently effected by conventional flexible hose elements 29, which respectively connect to the tubular frame elements 20a and 20b at points near the swivel mounting of the drag bar structure 20 on the mower supporting frame M. The lengths of the flexible hose elements 29 are selected so as to accommo-' date all possible swivelling movements which the drag bar 20 is permitted to have relative to the supporting frame l4 and, hence, the transmission of pressured fluid to the hydraulic motor of the mower is unimpaired in any position that the drag bar structure 20 may assume with respect to the tractor.

In order to eiTect the elevation of the drag bar structure 28 and the cutter bar unit 24, a well-known typ of lifting arrangement is provided comprising a cable 39 which is connected at one end to a spring 3| which is in turn connected to sleeve 22a, and at its other end is connected to a bell crank lever 32 which is suitably pivoted to an upstanding bracket 26 provided on the medial portions of the drag bar structure 20. The medial portions of cable 36 are trained over a pulley 34 which is journaled on a suitable horizontal pin 35 which is rigidly secured to mower frame M. The other end of bell crank lever 32 is connected by an adjustable length rod 36 to a lever 31 which is rigidly secured to the cutter bar frame 24. Hence, elevation of the tractor hitch links H will elevate the carrying frame 14 and thus effect a tightening of the cable.

30. This in turn will produce an upward rocking of the cutter bar frame 24 about the axis provided by pivot pin 26 until the bell crank engages a suitable stop 32a. Further lifting movement of the hitch links H will then result in a bodily lifting of the entire mower structure. It should be noted that the fluid connections to the hydraulic motor are not afiected in any manner by such raising or lowering movements.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated ;by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. For use with a tractor having a pressured fluid source, a tractor mower comprising a mounting frame connectable to the tractor, a laterally disposed drag bar swivelly attached to said mounting frame at one end, releasable means connecting the other end of said drag bar to the tractor, a cutter bar unit attached to said other end of said drag bar, said cutter bar unit including a movable knife element and an hydraulic motor for powering said knife element, said drag bar comprising at least one rigid tubular element extending substantially the full length of said drag bar, flexible conduit means adjacent said one end of said drag bar for connecting said tubular element in fluid conducting relationship with the fluid pressure source on the tractor, and fluid conducting means connecting the other end of said tubular element to said hydraulic motor.

2. In a hydraulic powered mower having a cutter bar frame, an elongated knife reciprocably mounted on said cutter bar frame, and a fluid motor for driving said knife; the improvements comprising a drag bar structure adapted for connection at one end to a prime mover, said drag bar structure including a pair of spaced, generally parallel, rigid tubular members adapted to transmit hydraulic fluid, and means for mounting said cutter bar frame on said drag bar structure comprising a yoke having a base portion secured to said cutter bar frame and spaced upright portions, a pair of hollow, axially aligned, pivot pins respectively pivotally connecting the ends of said tubular members with said upright portions of said yoke for relative movement in a vertical plane, the hollow portions of said pins communicating respectively with the interior bores of said tubular members, said hydraulic motor including a housing having a pair of oppositely disposed ports respectively receiving the opposed ends of said pivot pins in fluid transmitting relation, thereby permitting pivotal vertical movement of said cutter bar frame relative to said drag bar without interruption of fluid transmission to said hydraulic motor.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein a hollow plug is inserted in the end of each tubular member, each of said plugs having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of said tubular member and a transverse bore pivotally journaling said hollow pivot pin.

4. For use with a tractor having a pressured fluid source, a mower comprising a drag bar structure, means for mounting one end of said drag bar for swivelling movements relative to the tractor, releasable means for normally securing said drag bar structure in a transverse position relative to the tractor, a cutter bar unit including a movable knife and an hydraulic motor, means for mounting said cutter bar unit on said other end of said drag bar structure, said hinge means and said drag bar structure being hollow and defining intercommunicating fluid passages, flexible conduit means for connecting the tractor adjacent end of said fluid passages to said pressured fluid source, and means connecting the other end of said passages to said fluid motor.

5. In an hydraulic mower, a cutter bar frame, and an hydraulic motor housing mounted on one end of said cutter bar frame, a U-shaped yoke having a base portion secured to said cutter bar frame and upstanding arm portions disposed on opposite sides of said motor housing, said arm portions having aligned apertures therein, said motor housing having a pair of oppositely disposed fluid ports respectively aligned with said apertures, a drag bar structure comprising two spaced structural members, and hollow pivot pins respectively insertable through the ends of said structural members, said apertures and said ports, thereby pivotally connecting said drag bar structure to said cutter bar frame, and means for supplying fluid to said hydraulic motor through said hollow pivot pins.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said structural members are tubular and a hollow plug is inserted in the end of each tubular member, each of said plugs having a longitudinal bore communicating with the interior of said tubular member and a transverse bore pivotally journaling said hollow pivot pin.

NORMAN R. POLLOCK. ROBERT L. ERWIN.

No references cited. 

